MADAME KRACH 
Built of creamy-white Arles-stone, it was the model of 
a classic villa on a hillside by the blue Mediterranean. 
It belonged to a French railway king, who suddenly 
appeared in a certain quiet little town of Provence, and 
bought a tract of land in the neighbourhood. According 
to the traditional custom of these parts, he began by 
clearing away nearly all the Aleppo pines, the Myrtle, 
and Rosemary brushwood that clothed the hillside ; then, 
to replace these and hide the unsightly scars, he planted 
Oranges and Lemons, Palms and Yuccas, with spires of white 
Bellflowers (better known, perhaps, as “ Spanish Bayonets”), 
Roses, Geraniums, and endless blue Aloe, feathery Pepper- 
trees, yellow-flowering Mimosa, Eucalyptus or “ Gum-trees.” 
Of all the old vegetation — rank Lentiscus, giant Ling, white 
almond-scented Heather, creeping Smilax, Butcher’s-broom 
— nothing escaped, except here and there a few Arbutus, or 
“ Strawberry-trees,” whose shrublike appearance saved 
them. In the midst, slowly and at much expense, up rose 
his white palace, with a broad terrace whence he could see 
over the shining sea and the dark pine-clad hills surrounding 
the neighbouring old seaport. To watch the progress he 
took up his abode in the block of stabling already built, 
and almost a villa in itself, full of beautiful white-and-gold 
furniture, waiting to be transported to the as yet roofless 
suites of pillared apartments in the slowly rising villa. He 
was accompanied by a pale dark-eyed woman, said to be 
his wife. Always alone, she seemed to spend her time 
driving about the country in a fine carriage, drawn by four 
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